Colin Powell is one of the great public servants of our time. He
is a soldier, a diplomat, a civic leader, a statesman, and a great
patriot. I value his friendship. He will be missed. On behalf of all
Americans, I thank him for his many years of service, and I wish him
and Alma all the best.

In his four years as Secretary of State, Colin forged new alliances
that are helping America win the war on terror and reinvigorated old
and honored friendships. He has helped to build two great coalitions
that have liberated more than 50 million people in Afghanistan and Iraq
from brutal dictators, and which are now helping those nations emerge
as successful democracies. He was a key architect of the Broader
Middle East initiative, which is helping to spread freedom and
democracy in that region.

His diplomatic skills also helped to end regional conflicts and
lower tensions on the Indian subcontinent. Through his advocacy, he
focused the world's attention on the plight of the suffering in Sudan,
Liberia, and Haiti. His role in resolving the EP-3 incident early in
my Administration showed the calm judgment and steady resolve he has
brought to our foreign policy. Thousands of dedicated foreign policy
professionals are grateful for his leadership in modernizing and
strengthening the Department of State.